Papal Message Seeks "Global Authority" for Economy

Reuters ^ | July 7, 2009 | Phillip Pullella

[TheRiverNile]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict called on Tuesday for a "world political authority" to manage the global economy and for more government regulation of national economies to pull the world out of the current crisis and avoid a repeat.

The pope made his call for a re-think of the way the world economy is run in a new encyclical which touched on a number of social issues but whose main connecting thread was how the current crisis has affected both rich and poor nations.

Parts of the encyclical, titled "Charity in Truth," seemed bound to upset free marketeers because of its underlying rejection of unbridled capitalism and unregulated market forces, which he said had led to "thoroughly destructive" abuse of the system.

The pope said every economic decision had a moral consequence and called for "forms of redistribution" of wealth overseen by governments to help those most affected by crises.

Benedict said "there is an urgent need of a true world political authority" whose task would be "to manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result."

[Reagan Man]

Millions of folks are baffled by this remark from Pope Benedict.

The New World Order just got a huge boost.

[randomhero97]

The Catholic Church was established by the Roman Government.

This is no surprise.

Bingo.

[bill1952]

not sure of your point.

[paulycy]

“Tis more blessed to give than to receive and dammit, I’m going to see that you are blessed! Over and over again.”

[Albion Wilde]

No, no!

[americanophile]

Remember, the Pope is the shepherd for millions of poor Africans, Indians, Latin Americans and Philipinos--not just rich Americans."

Then he would do well to tell these people to follow America's example of individual liberty, hard work, and free-market capitalism...not condemn them to perpetual poverty through outdated, collectivist fallacies.

[padre35]

I’m sure there is a whole raft of really loud Preachers shaking the rooftops in churches and on youtube at the moment.

This being an encyclical, it is supposed to carry more weight isn’t it?

[Turret Gunner A20]

Remember, the Pope is the shepherd for millions of poor Africans, Indians, Latin Americans and Philipinos--not just rich Americans.

And what about those who don't wanted to be hereded like sheep by a shepherd -- Pope or otherwise?

[The Pack Knight]

I know it was a long time ago, but didn’t Charles V teach the Vatican to keep its nose out of this sort of thing?

[Pyro7480]

The Church condemned communism numerous times. That is just throwing around terms.

[padre35]

This is disappointing to say the least, I had thought he was a Traditionalist, this borders on Liberation Theology and I never thought I’d hear that from this Pope.

[Locomotive Breath]

there is an urgent need of a true world political authority" whose task would be "to manage the global economy

In former times this was otherwise known as "The Catholic Church" and he wants that role back.

[Pyro7480]

This is Reuters that we’re talking about!

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

What in the hell??? The Pope is helping to reign in globalization in a political leader? This is freaky.

[MrDem]

Forced giving via socialism IS EVIL AND IMMORAL TO THE CORE!

GOD ALMIGHTY doesn’t even force us to give against our will.

[Bokababe]

"Who here has actually read the Pope’s encyclical, and not just what Reuters says the Pope said? Anyone? Anyone?

I haven't. But if you do and get a different read on it, please share it.

I am not a Roman Catholic so there is nothing for me to defend, but I am completely aware that the media spin on things can often reach orbital proportions -- and for the sake of the world's Roman Catholics, I do hope that it is just media spin and that the Pope didn't say or mean what we are hearing here.

[Turret Gunner A20]

tke = take

[randomhero97]

One of the reasons that I am a fallen away RC.

Never was and will never be. If every one would read about the history of the catholic church they would get a rude awakening.

[St. Louis Conservative]

I’m dismayed that the Pope seems to believe in enslaving the masses to an anti-Christian, socialist global elite.

No way in hell I’d ever go along with something like this.

Prediction: The left will exploit this to push their agenda while ignoring other parts of the encyclical pertaining to moral issues.

[Pyro7480]

If anyone read the unfiltered-through-Protestant-hands history of the Catholic Church, they’d be Catholic.